Estranged wife of celebrated pianist charged with stabbing their 2 daughters in Texas

Sofya Tsygankova (R), the wife of the Ukranian pianist Vadym Kholodenko, has been charged with first-degree murderFacebook

Texas police have arrested Sofya Tsygankova, the wife of Ukranian-born pianist Vadym Kholodenko for murder in connection with the deaths of the couple's two young children. Benbrook Police Commander David Babcock said that police served Tsygankova with an arrest warrant on 21 March.

The couple's two children, five-year-old Nika Kholodenko and one-year-old Michela Kholodenko, were found dead in their beds in Benbrook, a suburb of Fort Worth. Authorities said Tsygankova was in an "extreme state of distress."

Tsygankova, 31, remains in a Fort Worth hospital on a mental health evaluation. Authorities reported earlier that she suffered knife wounds. Police said Tsygankova's stab wounds were self-inflicted, according to CBS local media.

During a press conference Benbrook police Commander David Babcock said: "Mr. Kholodenko was the person who initiated the 911 call yesterday morning at 9.27am. He had an appointment with the mother of the children to pick up the children at 9.20am, which was their regular practice as far as we can tell."

When Kholodenko entered the house "he found the mother in an extreme state of distress and discovered the children in their state," Babcock added. The pianist is cooperating with investigation and is not considered a suspect, say police.

The children showed no obvious signs of trauma and cause of death has not yet been released, pending autopsies.

Vadym Kholodenko, a Ukrainian musician, won the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth in 2013, beating about 30 finalists from 12 countries. He has played with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestras and also with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Kholodenko and Tsygankova married in 2010 and filed for divorce in November, according to Tarrant County court records. Kholodenko had moved out of the home with Tsygankova and their daughters, but regularly picked up the children from the home in the mornings.